Circ_PRKCA drove NSCLC progression via SRSF1/HIF-1A/PKM2 axis-mediated glycolytic reprogramming

Elucidating the complex molecular drivers of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and identifying novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Although circPRKCA is implicated in tumorigenesis, its role in NSCLC remains poorly characterized. This study investigates the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of circPRKCA in NSCLC. CircPRKCA expression and downstream target expression were assessed via qRT-PCR and Western blotting. In vitro functional assays evaluated circPRKCA's role in NSCLC cells. Regulatory mechanisms were further examined using database analysis, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and dual-luciferase reporter assays. In vivo tumor growth was evaluated in mouse xenograft models. CircPRKCA was significantly upregulated in NSCLC and promoted tumor growth and metastasis. Our data suggest that circPRKCA may act as a scaffold for RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), potentially facilitating the recruitment of SRSF1 to HIF-1A mRNA, which appeared to correlate with increased HIF-1A stability. HIF-1A overexpression enhanced NSCLC cell proliferation via PKM2-mediated glycolysis. High circPRKCA expression correlated with poor survival in NSCLC patients. CircPRKCA-SRSF1 axis enhanced proliferation and suppressed apoptosis by stabilizing HIF-1A and modulating PKM2-driven glycolysis. These findings reveal novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for NSCLC.